Phil Cooper, of Gloucester County, in 1828 was the chattel slave of his
free wife. Janette Wood of Richmond was manumitted in 1795 by her mother,
"natural love" being the only consideration named in the legal instrument.
John Sabb, of Richmond, purchased in 1801 his aged father-in-law Julius and
for the nominal consideration of five shillings executed a deed of
manumission.[14]
Purchases of this kind before 1806 were usually followed immediately by
manumission of the slave. Scattered through the deeds and wills of Virginia
County records in the quarter century ending with 1806 are to be found
numerous documents of which the following is an example:
To all whom these presents may come know ye, that I Peter Hawkins a
free black man of the city of Richmond having purchased my wife Rose,
a slave about twenty-two years of age and by her have had a child
called Mary now about 18 mo. old, for the love I bear toward my wife
and child have thought proper to emancipate them and for the further
consideration of five shillings to me in hand paid ... I emancipate
and set free the said Rose and Mary and relinquish all my right ...
as slaves to the said Rose and Mary.